01/19/18

NURSERY VOLUNTEERS MEETING – This Sunday, January 21st following Morning Worship, there
will be a short meeting in the nursery room for all nursery volunteers prior to Sunday School. If you are on
the Nursery Schedule, please plan to attend

SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ALL AGES – Following morning Worship

SIERRA LEONE MISSION TRIP – Items for Sierra Leone are being collected. There are two suitcases
in the foyer to receive supplies for Kid’s Camp, School supplies and Office supplies for Makeni World Hope
office. List of needed supplies are on table as well

TUESDAY MORNING LADIES BIBLE STUDY – This overview of the Old Testament led by Pastor
Bob Clark, will resume on January 23rd and meets Tuesdays from 8:30-10:00 a.m. in the church fireplace
area.

ROCK SOLID MEAL MINISTRY – meets Tuesday, January 23rd at 4:15 p.m. If you would like to help
serve, please contact Aaron or Emily Fredrick

CHOIR REHEARSALS – The choir will rehearse on Wednesday, January 24th at 7pm at the church

LADIES EXODUS STUDY – There are two opportunities to study this great book of the Bible with the
CPC Ladies. Join us on Monday’s from 6:30-8pm the Exodus study meets at the Fowler’s. Please contact
Lori Fowler if you would like to join in. Another group meets on Wednesdays at noon at the Harrington’s.
Please RSVP to Kari Harrington if you plan to attend.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING to present the 2018 budget will be held Sunday, January 28th,
immediately following worship.

LIFEMATES VALENTINE EVENT - Progressive Dinner on Saturday, February 10th from 6-9 pm. The
cost is $20 per couple. Child care provided at the church for a donation. Final day for dinner and child care
sign up is Sunday, January 28th. Sign up in foyer or by texting Jodi McKinney @ 765.914.1978.

BABY SHOWER– You are invited to a Baby Shower celebrating Morgan Harrington (Ben Harrington's
wife) and baby girl: Saturday, February 10th, 10:30-12noon at the church. Brunch will be served. If you plan
to attend, please RSVP to Emily Fredrick emilharr12@gmail.com or call/text (765) 977-5363 no later than
Monday, February 5th. Morgan is registered on Amazon and at Target. Morgan's favorite colors for baby girl
are gray, mint blue, purple & coral. Since they will be flying home, if you are interested in contributing to a
group gift please indicate so with your RSVP and we will work out the details.

SONG OF THE MONTH

Song of the Month – “We Look To You” – from “Prayers of the Saints” by Sovereign Grace
About this album:

“The prayers of the saints in Revelation are the cries of God’s people for his intervention, justice, and
deliverance. They reflect the ‘already but not yet’ nature of living between the first and second coming of
Christ. Christ has truly triumphed over Satan, death, and sin, but a full and final deliverance awaits his
return, when he will destroy every rule and every authority and power (1 Cor.15:24).

The songs on this album include songs of praise and adoration, but we’ve focused on giving expression to
the confession, longing, intercession, and anticipation that should characterize the songs of ‘elect exiles’ (1
Pet. 1:1). We have a heavenly home that’s been secured for us through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus,
whose death paid the full penalty for our sins.”

But we’re not home yet.
A great new album to add to – or start – your worship collection!! Here are the link and the lyrics to this

Deliver us from evil Lord
We sojourn in a broken world
Though evil hands give rise to war
Remind us this is not our home
We look to You we look to You
Sovereign King of all the earth
We look to You we look to You
In Your strength we will endure
In Your strength we will endure

Deliver us from evil Lord
Our hearts so quickly run astray
Temptation crouching at the door
To turn us from the narrow way
We look to You we look to You
Christ the conquering Son of God
We look to You we look to You
Lord complete what You’ve begun
Lord complete what You’ve begun

Deliver us from evil Lord
The devil’s seeking to devour
With trembling hearts we hear his roar
But Your strong arm will crush his pow’r

We look to You we look to You
Come and end his earthly reign
We look to You we look to You
Lord deliver us we pray

We look to You we look to You
You will come again to reign
We look to You we look to You
All the earth will bow in praise

WOMEN’S MINISTRY

Tuesday Morning Ladies’ Bible Study, Old Testament overview, led by Pastor Bob Clark, meets 8:30-10:00
a.m. in the church fireplace area. This study will resume on Tuesday, January 23rd.

Ladies Exodus Bible Studies – There are two opportunities to study this book of the Bible with the ladies of
the church. The first study of Exodus meets at Lori Fowler’s home (3800 Delwood Lane) from 6:30-8pm on
Mondays. Please RSVP to Lori Fowler if you would like to join this study. Mindy Deckard is also
facilitating the study on Wednesday afternoons. This study meets from 12noon-1:30pm at Kari Harrington’s
home (12 Parkway Lane) Bring a lunch. Please RSVP to Kari Harrington if you would like to attend.

Inspire – The Next INSPIRE meeting will be held February 8th from 6:45pm -8:45pm in the CPC foyer (350
Henley Rd. Richmond, IN) Dessert & 2 speakers: 1 sharing a Practical focus & 1 sharing part of "Her Story"
a testimony of God's faithfulness in her life. Fellowship, Connect, Discuss & Pray. All ladies of the church
in high school or older are invited to attend the INSPIRE events.

THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD WHEN LAUGHTER ISN'T FUNNY: REFUGEES DEFEND THEIR FAITH IN

KANGAROO COURT

One of the most anticipated, decisive, and nerve-wracking moments for every refugee in Germany is the day
in court, when their case is heard as to whether their life is truly in danger if they were to be sent back to
their home country. For Christian converts from Islam much of their case rests on proof of a true conversion.
Each refugee is asked about their journey into Christianity. However, this day in court often resembles a
kangaroo court rather than true justice. The nature of the questions refugees are asked belies the German
courts ability to assess conversion to Christianity. Furthermore, refugee's answers are often incorrectly
translated by court appointed translators who haven't a clue about Christianity either.

Faith on trial Here are some of the questions judges have asked to assess whether a refugee truly knows and
understands what the Christian faith is about:

"What were the names of the sons in the parable of the prodigal son?" "What is the global capital of the
Christian faith?" "Why haven't you read the whole Bible?" "How do you reconcile the sovereignty of God
with His Trinitarian nature?" "The Bible is also considered holy writing in Islam and can be obtained
freely; why haven't you tried to buy a copy?" "Martin Luther is an important person in the Gospels. What do

know about him?" There is a sad irony to these questions. A secular state that hasn't a clue about what true
Christianity involves is in the position to judge whether refuges are true Christians. More poignantly put: A
secular state, often hostile to the gospel, is judging whether people who do hold the gospel should be sent
back to countries hostile to the gospel.

How can someone who is unconverted judge those who are? In our work with refugees many arrive having
just begun their journey toward Christ. Many have said, "I've known the darkness of Islam, and a hunger to
know Jesus began in my homeland. God brought me to Germany so that I might find this Jesus." They are
new to Christianity, and yet are examined as if they've walked with Jesus for decades, or have completed a
theological degree, by those who know little about Christianity.

Lost in translation However, the problem isn't just with the judges. Much gets lost in translation by
translators who don't understand Christianity either. In a recent case in Kassel an Iranian refugee who has
converted to Christianity was asked what was preached in the church he now attends. He began speaking
about a sermon series from the book of Matthew (Matthäus) and Luther's understanding of the gospel. The
translator didn't understand the refugee's response and said, "He preaches about Lothar Matthäus."

The courtroom erupted in laughter. Lothar Matthäus is a soccer legend in Germany. The judge irreverently
retorted, "So does Matthew have a new coaching position?"

Longing for justice, met with laughter The journey of a refugee is more difficult than most of us can imagine.
They've lost friends, family, culture, security, identity, comfort, possessions, and any sense of home. Many
come to Germany seeking a new life and lose it on the way. When they arrive, they are met with differing
reactions, suspicion at a minimum and racism at worst. Their hope is often in their day in court, when their
plea is heard, justice is provided, and they can begin a new life. My heart was broken to think of their day in
court as simply a kangaroo court. How devastating it must be to stand before the judge, desperately longing
for justice, refuge, and a new life, and to be met instead with laughter. The saddest part is that for most in the
court the laughter costs them nothing. However, for the refugee in the dock, the laughter, the
misunderstanding, can lead to a life in prison, or at worst, their lives if they are sent back.

I think of Stephen in Acts 6 and 7. Stephen was also brought into a kangaroo court. It should have been a
place where his case was heard and was met with justice on earth. As earthly justice failed, he looked to
heaven's court to see the true Judge. Jesus in Acts 7:8 is standing not sitting. It is the position of judge who is
rendering his verdict. On earth Stephen was found guilty and stoned. In the heavenlies he was found innocent
and was glorified.

Our heart's long for earthly justice for our refugee friends. Most of their lives they've hopped from one
kangaroo court to another. They've looked into the eyes of their heavenly Judge and found hope. May their
hope, their testimony change the hearts of those who translate them, judge them, hear them, and see their
lives. May their joy turn the laughter of derision into the laughter of disciples who follow the true Judge,
whose verdict is the only one we will hear ring into eternity.